Dry cleaning fluid



Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRY CLEANING FLUID Frederick W. Sullivan, Jr., Hammond, hit, as signor to Standard Oil Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Indiana No Drawing. Application December 9, 1932, Serial No. 646,523

20 Claims.

.10 cleaned with a dry cleaning fluid, a large proportion of the natural oils contained in the fabric are extracted with the result that to a greater or lesser extent the fabric loses its luster, takes on a dried out appearance and becomes harsh to the 15 touch. Furthermore, this removal of the natural oils contained in the textile fabric tends in general to decrease its tensile strength and resistance to wear. It also tends to alter the lengthof the fabric, generally causing shrinkage, and this is,

20 of course, highly detrimental in the case of garments, etc. These undesirable properties, although present in the case of ordinary hydrocarbon cleaning fluids such as petroleum naphtha are greatly aggravated in the case of dry cleaning 25 fluids of the chlorinated solvent type, i. e., fluids containing a large proportion of carbontetrachloride and/or other chlorinated hydrocarbons, which have a greater tendency to extract the nat-' ural oils than do the hydrocarbons themselves.

80 Due to their non-flammable characteristics and increased cleaning efiiciency these cleaning fluids of the chlorinated solvent type are being used to a rapidly increasing extent in spite of the con:- comitant disadvantages above noted. I have 35 found that it is possible to obviate these disadvantages and obtain a highly superior cleaning fluid of the chlorinated solvent type by incorporarating therein a small quantity of a new and novel type of lusterizing agent. I prefer to add from do about 0.5% to 1.5% of lusterizing agent to the dry cleaning fluid. However, concentrations as small as 0.1% or even less have an appreciable beneficial efiect and concentrations as high as 2 45 or 3% can sometimes be used satisfactorily, particularly where almost all the fluid is removed from the fabric after dry cleaning, for instance by means of a centrifugal device.

As an example of my new lusterizing agents,

so I find that the chlorinated naphthalenes and particularly the complex commercial mixtures of chlorinated naphthalenes are highly suitable. I prefer to use the chlorinated naphthalenes having on the average at least two chlorine atoms per $5 naphthalene molecule and, of course, I prefer to use the highly purified materials which are translucent and light colored.

As a specific example, I find that the incorporation of about 1% by weight of a commercial mixture of chlorinated naphthalenes having a 5 melting point of approximately 200 F., in a non flammable dry cleaning fluid having approximately the following volumetric composition is highly efllcient: 60% carbon tetrachloride, 20%

tetrachlorethane and 20% petroleum naphtha having an initial boiling point about 10 F. below the boiling point of carbon tetrachloride and a maximum boiling point approximately 25 F. above the boiling point of tetrachlorethane.

I find that the use of the above composition containing 1% of chlorinated naphthalenes gives a dry cleaned fabric having a greatly improved general appearance, particularly an improved luster, and that, as compared with a fluid of the same composition but containing no chlorinated naphthalene, it is largely free from deleterious effects on the textilestrength and fibre length of the fabric being cleaned. In order to bring out these improvements it is sometimes necessary to press the fabric with a hot iron after dry cleaning but this is not disadvantageous since it forms a part of the normal routine of garment finishing. Another highly important feature of the use of this material is that the chlorinated naphthalenes being substantially or completely non-flammable detract nothing from the non-flammability of the solvent with which they are incorporated. This is a matter of great importance since the essential characteristic of a dry cleaning fluid of the completely non-flammable type is that it remain completely non-flammable at all stages of its evaporation. Otherwise a serious fire hazard may result if a portion of the fluid be per-. mitted to evaporate where the residue may be subjected to ignition. The amount of chlorinated 0 naphthalenes used is, of course, insuflicient to render the fabric itself non-flammable.

If hard waxy chlorinated naphthalenes or mixture of chlorinated naphthalenes is used it is sometimes desirable to soften it'by using an equal or lesser proportion of oily chlorinated naphthalenes or mixture of chlorinated naphthalenes (less chlorinated than the waxy materials) or a viscous white petroleum oil, for instance, a white oilhaving a Saybolt viscosity of to 300 seconds 50 at F.

As an alternative to the use of chlorinated napthalenes, various other chlorinated organic compounds or mixtures of such compounds can be used. The chlorinated diphenyls or their 56 commercial complex mixtures are examples of alternative lusterizing agents. I prefer a colorless or pale yellow, viscous, oily mixture of chlorinated diphenyls having a viscosity in the neighborhood of 4'7 seconds Saybolt at 210 F. Such a material is completely non-flammable and is preferable either to the more mobile (less chlorinated) Aroclors which are somewhat flammable or to the more highly chlorinated solid or resinous mixture of chlorinated diphenyls. These latter types, however, may also be used.

Amongst other materials which are suitable for accomplishing the object of my invention may be mentioned the chlorinated paraflin waxes,

chlorinated anthracenes, chlorinated diphenyl ethers, etc. The chlorinated polynuclear homocyclic organic compounds are suitable as a class. In general, the most suitable materials are waxes or viscous oils having a chlorine content of at least 20% and preferably at least 35%. They should be colorless or light colored, should be soluble in hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvents, should be completely non-flammable or at least have a flash point above 250 F. and preferably above 300 F., and should possess good wetting qualities for the fabric being dry cleaned.

These materials find their greatest utility as aforementioned in dry cleaning fluids of the chlorinated solvent type which consist either wholly of one or more highly chlorinated solvents e. g. carbon tetrachloride, tetrachlorethylene, trichlorethylene, tetrachlorethane, etc.) or of such a solvent or solvents together with a hydrocarbon solvent such as petroleum naphtha. In order to achieve a substantially completely nonflammable dry cleaning fluid the hydrocarbon solvent used in a dry cleaning fluid of the chlorinated solvent type should be present in a quantity not in excess of 50% by volume of the complete fluid and preferably not in excess of 25%. The hydrocarbon solvent should also have a volatility closely approximating that of the chlorinated solvent or solvents with which it is used. This can generally be secured by selecting or manufacturing a. petroleum naphtha having an initial boiling point not more than 35 F. and preferably not more than 15 F. below the boiling point of the lowest boiling chlorinated solvent present and a maximum boiling point of not more than 80 F. and preferably not more than 35 F. above the boiling point of the highest boiling chlorinated solvent present.

As a matter of convenience I have described my invention in terms of the use of certain chlorinated lusterizing agents in dry cleaning fluids of the chlorinated solvent type. It is to be understood that other halogen compounds, particularly bromine and fluorine compounds, can be used in place of chlorine compounds in my chlorinated solvents and/ or in my chlorinated lusterizing agents and the word chlorinated and related words as used in my specification and claims are to be read as covering other halogenated compounds.

While I have set forth my invention in terms of certain specific embodiments thereof, I nevertheless do not desire to be limited thereby but only by the scope of the appended claims in which I set forth the novel features inherent in my invention.

I claim:

l. A dry cleaning fluid for textile fabrics comcomprising from about 0.1% to about 2% of an organic lusterizing agent selected from the group consisting of the chlorinated naphthalenes, the

chlorinated anthracenes, the chlorinated diphenyls, the chlorinated diphenyl ethers and the chlorinated paraffin waxes, said organic lusterizing agent containing at least 20% chlorine.

2. A dry cleaning fluid for textile fabrics com- 5 prising from about 0.1% to about 3% of an organic lusterizing agent selected from the group consisting of the chlorinated naphthalenes, the chlorinated anthracenes, the chlorinated diphenyls, the chlorinated diphenyl ethers and the 10 chlorinated paraflinwaxes, said organic lusterizing agent containing not .less than about 35% chlorine.

3. A dry cleaning fluid of the chlorinated solvent type for dry cleaning textile fabrics como prising from about 0.1% to about 2% of a chicrinated organic lusterizing agent, selected from the group consisting of the chlorinated naphthalenes, the chlorinated anthracenes, the chlo-. rinated diphenyls, the chlorinated diphenyl 20 ethers and the chlorinated paraffin waxes.

4. A dry cleaning fluid ofthe non-flammable type for dry cleaning textile fabrics comprising between approximately 0.5% and approximately 1.5% of a chlorinated organic lusterizing agent selected from the group consisting of the chlorinated naphthalenes, the chlorinated anthracenes, the chlorinated diphenyls, the chlorinated diphenyl ethers and the chlorinated paraffin waxes. 30

5. A dry cleaning fluid for textile fabrics comprising from about 0.1% to about 3% of a material selected from the group consisting of the chlorinated naphthalenes, the chlorinated anthracenes, the chlorinated diphenyls, the chlo- 35 rinated diphenyl ethers and the chlorinated parafiin waxes.

6. A dry cleaning fluid of the chlorinated solvent type for dry cleaning textile fabrics comprising a substantial amount but not more than about 3% of a chlorinated, polynuclear, homocyclic lusterizing agent containing at least about 20% chlorine.

7. A dry cleaning fluid for textile fabrics comprising from approximately 0.1% to approximately 2% of chlorinated naphthalenes.

8. A dry cleaning fluid of the chlorinated solvent type-for dry cleaning textile fabrics comprising from approximately 0.1% to approximately 2% of chlorinated naphthalenes, said chlorinated naphthalenes having an average of at least two chlorine atoms per molecule of naphthalene.

9. A substantially non-flammable dry cleaning fluid for textile fabrics substantially consisting of at least one chlorinated solvent, not more than about 50% of afpetroleum naphtha having an initial boiling point not more than about 35 F. below the boiling point of the lowest boiling chlorinated solventpresent and a maximum boiling point not more than about 80 F. above the boiling point of the highest boiling chlorinated solvent present, and a substantial amount but not more than about 2% of a chlorinated organic lusterizing agent selected from the group consisting of the chlorinated naphthalenes, the chlorinated anthracenes, the chlorinated diphenyls, the chlorinated diphenyl ethers and the chlorinated paraflin waxes.

10. A dry cleaning fluid for textile fabrics comprising'approximately 1% by weight of chlorinated naphthalenes dissolved in a fluid having approximately the following volumetric composi: tion: 60% carbon tetrachloride, 20% tetrachlorethane and'20% petroleum naphtha having an amass? initial boiling point about 10 F. below the boiling point of carbon tetrachloride and a maximum boiling point approximately 25 F. above the boiling point of tetrachlorethane.

11. A dry cleaning fluid of the chlorinated solvent type for dry cleaning textile fabrics comprising from approximately 0.1% to approximately 3% of chlorinated diphenyl.

12. A dry cleaning fluid of the chlorinated solvent type for dry cleaning textile fabrics comprising from approximately 0.1% to approximately 3% of chlorinated paraflin wax.

13. A process for dry cleaning textile fabrics comprising contacting said fabrics. with a dry cleaning fluid comprising from about 0.1% to about 3% of an organic lusterizing agent selected from the group consisting of the chlorinated naphthalenes, the chlorinated anthracenes, the chlorinated diphenyls, the chlorinated diphenyl ethers and the chlorinated parafiin waxes, said organic lusterizing agent containing not less than about chlorine.

14. A process for dry cleaning textile fabrics comprising contacting said fabrics with a dry cleaning fluid comprising from about 0.1% to about 3% of a material selected from the group consisting of the chlorinated naphthalenes, the chlorinated anthracenes, the chlorinated diphenyls, the chlorinated diphenyl ethers and the chlorinated paramn waxes.

15. A process for dry cleaning textile fabrics comprising contacting said fabrics with a dry cleaning fluid comprising from approximately phenyls, the chlorinated diphenyl ethers and the chlorinated paraifin waxes.

17. A dry cleaning fluid according to claim 16 in which said organic lusterlzing agent contains at least 20% chlorine.

18. A dry cleaning fluid according to claim 16 in which said organic lusterizing agent contains 15 at least 35% chlorine.

19. A substantially non-iiaable dry cleaning fluid for textile fabrics substantially consisting of at least one chlorinated solvent, not more than about of a petroleum naphtha having 20 an initial boiling point not more than about 35 F. below the boiling point of the lowest boiling chlorinated solvent present and a maximum boiling point not more than about F. above the boiling point of the highest boiling chlorinated 25 solvent present, and a substantial amount but not more than about 3% of an organic lusterizing agent comprising at least one chlorinated naphthalene.

20. A dry cleaning fluid of the non-flammable 30 type for dry cleaning textile fabrics comprising from approximately 0.1% to approximately 3% of chlorinated naphthalene. 

